Family Bonds that Support Coping with Chronic Childhood Illness in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

Maria Elizabete De Amorim Silva,Elenice Maria Cecchetti Vaz,Amanda Narciso Machado,Neusa Collet,Vanessa Medeiros Da Nóbrega,Isabelle Pimentel Gomes

doi:10.3823/1962

Abstract

Objective: Identify family bonds that support coping with chronic childhood illness from the perspective of comprehensive care. Method: This exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach was performed in a public hospital in the Brazilian state of Paraiba between December 2011 and March 2012 through semi-structured interviews with mothers of chronically ill children. Thematic analysis was used for the interpretation of the data. Results: The support bonds constituted by the family include the nuclear and extended family; friends; neighbours; the government; healthcare professionals; and mothers who share the same experience. The social support provided falls under different dimensions, such as instrumental support, emotional support, informational support, reinforcement, and positive social interaction. Conclusion: Knowing the bonds that support families coping with chronic illness and their demands for attention and support is fundamental for providing comprehensive and humanised healthcare to those involved in this trajectory.

Highlights

Knowing the bonds that support families coping with chronic illness and their demands for attention and support is fundamental for providing comprehensive and humanised healthcare to those involved in this trajectory
The current epidemiological data of Brazil reveal a considerable increase in chronic disease [1]
This study is guided by the following question: What are the supporting linkages of Brazilian families in confronting chronic disease in infancy, with respect to the perspective of integral care? To answer this question, the objective of this study is to identify family bonds that support coping with chronic childhood illness in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, from the perspective of comprehensive care

Summary

Introduction

The current epidemiological data of Brazil reveal a considerable increase in chronic disease [1]. The National Household Survey (Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra em Domicílio - PNAD), conducted by Keywords Paediatric Nursing; Family Relations; Social Support; Chronic Disease. The diagnosis of a chronic disease imposes changes in everyday life because it triggers organic, emotional, and social changes that require a permanent adaptation on the part of children and their families [3,4,5]. The mother, the main carer, experiences moments associated with the routine care of the disease that can result in health impairment, such as emotional distress and difficulty to adapt to a new routine [3, 6], requiring special attention while she is the main care provider [3, 5]. The healthcare team needs to intervene to provide support, monitoring, and guidance to accommodate carers and their demands [7] to strengthen them so that they can overcome the adversities of the chronic childhood condition

Methods

Results

Conclusion